Children’s Programs – Nursery to 7th Grade

The children’s program is a cooperative model where parents are part of a 4-person teaching team or volunteer in another role every year. Each class, from Pre-K through Grade 7, has a specific curriculum for each year as described below. If you are interested in teaching a curriculum or volunteering in the nursery, let the Director of Lifespan Religious Education know!

Children K and up start in the worship service and transition to Religious Education (RE) classes from there. PreK and Nursery kids are welcome to start in worship or to start in their classrooms after 10am.

Please fill out our online Registration Form for any children (ages 0-18) who will be participating in religious education at FUSN this year.

Nursery

There are two adult staff members and two youth teachers in charge of the Nursery, which is open to babies and toddlers up to age three from 10:10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Sunday mornings.

Pre-Kindergarten

The Wonder of it All: Through nature, wonder and holidays the children are introduced to FUSN’s welcoming community.

Kindergarten

Wonderful Welcome: Wonderful Welcome establishes welcoming as part of one’s UU identity; welcoming is grounded in values and spirituality. Helps children feel a part of our FUSN community and understand the faith and practices of Unitarian Universalism. Challenges leaders and children alike to explore how and why we are willing to welcome others into our lives.

1st Grade

Love Surrounds Us: This program explores our UU Principles in the context of beloved community of family, home, school, and neighborhood. The children engage in activities that emphasize the love they feel in community and teaches children skills for forgiveness, love, sharing, acceptance, caring, and peace in a loving community.

We mark the 1st grade year with a special ritual for the 1st graders in which we present them with a book.

2nd Grade

Spirit of Adventure: Spirit of Adventure introduces famous UUs whose lives have exemplified the values of Unitarian Universalism. Physical movement, challenge, and adventure are used with themes including sports, exploring, building, and science.

3rd Grade

Moral Tales: Moral Tales provides children with spiritual and ethical tools to make choices and take actions that reflect their Unitarian Universalist beliefs and values.

4th Grade

Bibleodeon: The children are introduced to Hebrew and Christian scriptures and the connection between biblical events, UU principles and their own lives.

5th Grade

Sing to the Power: This program affirms our UU heritage of confronting “powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love.” Participants experience how their own power can create positive change and develop their sense of themselves as leaders, enriching their identities as Unitarian Universalists.

6th/7th Grade

Riddle & Mystery: Assists children in their own search for understanding. Each of the 16 sessions introduces and processes a Big Question: Does God exist? What happens when you die? Can we ever solve life’s mystery? How can I know what to believe? What does Unitarian Universalism mean to me?

6th-8th Grade

Junior Youth Group:Full of fun and engaging ways to help the middle school kids at FUSN get to know each other and do activities that in their words, “don’t feel like another class.” It’s a community building and community service oriented monthly gathering of middle school youth at FUUSN, and the youth work with adult advisors to plan the activities they want to do. Upcoming dates for Junior Youth Group meetings include: 10/1, 11/5, 12/3, 1/28, 2/25, 3/25 (Field Day at Project Adventure!), and 5/6.

Our Next Service

First Unitarian Society in Newton

Meet Our Minister

Rev. Erin Splaine has been FUSN's minister since 2010. Since the early 1990s, she has served in more than 30 roles working with UU societies and groups. Committed to social justice and spiritual growth, Rev. Splaine offers continual inspiration and support to the entire FUSN community and beyond.

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